County looking for more applicants for assessor position

MORRIS – Grundy County is searching for a new supervisor of assessments to fill the vacancy to be created when county assessor Dave Henderson retires in June.

“We hope some people start applying soon because so far, we haven’t had many applicants,” board member Chris Balkema told the Grundy County Finance Committee at its most recent meeting.

The assessor is charged with valuing every plot of property within the county and works on all things tax-related, including abatements, negotiations and settlements.

Applicants are required to pass an Illinois Department of Revenue test in order to be offered the position.

“I think we have about four or five applicants lined up to take the test,” Henderson said Monday. “I’m still expecting to get a few more phone calls from people wanting an application.”

The county has committed to pay the future assessor anywhere from $65,000 to $75,000, depending on experience. Henderson makes $78,000, but has served as the county’s assessor for more than 35 years.

The Grundy County Board must go through the IDOR to find a new supervisor of assessments, but can appoint an acting assessor to fill the role for a 60-day period before making its final decision.

Henderson’s last day is June 30, which gives the county until Aug. 31 to find a permanent replacement.

The prospective assessor should have at least two years experience in property sales, assessments, finance or appraisals, and must pass an examination administered by the IDOR to determine if they have the competence needed for the position.

The IDOR is scheduled to give the test to Grundy County applicants at 10:30 a.m. June 3 in the Grundy County Board chambers.

“It’s a very, very tough test,” board Chairman Ron Severson said at last week’s finance committee meeting. “You’re going to have a lot of people who fail that test.”

Henderson said it is not uncommon for applicants to fail the test, but said the county can call another test if needed before the Aug. 31 deadline.

If no replacements are found through the application process, the county can turn to the state’s list of accredited assessors who have already passed the test but have not been placed in a position, Henderson said.

In an effort to buy the county more time to find a suitable assessor, Henderson plans to have all of his assessments for next tax year completed and submitted to the board of review by August.

“He is trying to push ahead to get more done in this process to accommodate this transition,” Balkema said of Henderson. “It’s really quite a complicated process and Dave took us through a big chunk of it.”